Local Blogs

About this blog: I am a native of Alameda County, grew up in Pleasanton and currently live in the house I grew up in that is more than 100 years old. I spent 39 years in the daily newspaper business and wrote a column for more than 25 years in add... (More)

About this blog: I am a native of Alameda County, grew up in Pleasanton and currently live in the house I grew up in that is more than 100 years old. I spent 39 years in the daily newspaper business and wrote a column for more than 25 years in addition to writing editorials for more than 15 years. I have served as a director of many non-profits in the Valley and the broader Bay Area and currently serve as chair of Teen Esteem and on the advisory board of Shepherd?s Gate. I also served as founding chair of Heart for Africa and have travelled to Africa seven times to serve on mission trips. My wife, Betty Gail, has taught at Amador Valley High (from where we both graduated) since 1981. She and I both graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, as did both of my parents and my three siblings. Given that Cal tradition, our daughter went south to the University of Southern California and graduated with a degree in international relations. Since graduation, she has taken three mission trips and will be serving in the Philippines for nine months starting in September. (Hide)

Reflecting on 2016 in Pleasanton

Uploaded: Dec 27, 2016

As the New Year dawns, it’s a time for reflection about 2016.
Sadly, the Pleasanton school district, which had achieved some stability under the interim leadership by Superintendent Jim Hansen, now is roiled in further drama after trustees placed new Superintendent Rick Rubino on paid administrative leave Christmas week. Presumably, the investigation is ongoing as this is written, but it was the almost the last thing anyone connected with the district needed to see happen.
Meanwhile, it will be business as usual from a policy standpoint as the City Council enters a new year. With Mayor Jerry Thorne and Councilman Jerry Pentin easily winning re-election, they will join with Arnie Olsen and Kathy Narum to chart a steady course going forward. Councilwoman Karla Brown, who won re-election with the most votes, will offer the contrary viewpoint on development issues.
Looking back, the two ballot measures decided by voters both ended up with proponents’ views being rejected. A key difference was the Costco initiative on the November ballot was backed by Bill Wheeler of Black Tie Transportation and the Cox family that owns gas stations in town. There were clear business interests involved and they tried a pre-emptive strike to stop Costco before the City Council even had a chance to consider a formal application.
The voters overwhelmingly supported a Costco on Johnson Drive. The Johnson Drive Economic Development Zone allows a big-box retailer such as Costco and the way now is clear for the city and the council to approve an application in 2017.
The June referendum challenged the council’s approval of a much scaled-down version of Lund Ranch II, a 43-unit housing project that will complete long-planned development on the southeastern side of town. Gray Eagle resident Alan Roberts and other opponents in the Sycamore Creek neighborhood hired a firm to pay people to gather signatures for the referendum to put the council’s decision on the ballot.
It marked a first for Pleasanton with wealthy residents using their own financial resources to challenge a decision. Notably, the proposal was a major compromise with the houses limited to a small portion of the site and the city receiving dedicated open space.
Fortunately, residents citywide sorted out what was a deliberately confusing campaign to uphold the council’s decision. It was much closer than the Costco vote.
In the year ahead, the council also will have to take a measure back to voters. The development plan for the Bernal property including the sports park and open space was approved in an initiative that qualified for the ballot. Mayor Jerry Thorne was a key player in the group that put the measure on the ballot.
Now that the council has approved the master plan for a new civic center complex--(library, offices, police station and community center on the Bernal site—the voters must sign off on it because it was not in the original initiative. That will be interesting, but what will be more significant is how the city plans to pay for the expensive complex.

Posted by davidjoe,
a resident of Los Cerros Middle School,
on Jul 11, 2017 at 11:32 pmdavidjoe is a registered user.

Stunning, brilliant site design! To what extent have you been blogging for?
you made blogging look simple. Web Link The general look of your site is magnificent, and additionally the substance!. Much obliged For Your article.

Posted by Joseph190,
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows,
on Jul 12, 2017 at 4:37 amJoseph190 is a registered user.

If you want to transfer files between two devices, be it android, iOS or windows really quickly and securely then you must use SHAREit app which allows users to transfer files really fast.
Check out My Website Web Link for more information and how to download and install the app.

Posted by rahu,
a resident of Alamo Elementary School,
on Aug 16, 2017 at 4:29 amrahu is a registered user.

Currently, taking a gander at the primary choice on acquiring Robux, with squashing out hrs of gameplay and tip up, it may look like an incredible option given that its a free strategy to obtain robux while playing the diversion, yet in the event that you truly reserved the possibility to consider it, it isn't really free. You'll have the ability to make factors by completing deals such as submitting your e-mail address for a business's e-newsletter or submitting a survey. Web Link